Artemis II launched successfully on the 1st of April, embarking on a test run to take new images of the lunar surface and lay the foundations for future moon landings. The Orion spacecraft ‘Integrity’ has travelled around the moon, taking humanity the furthest from Earth they’ve ever been, and is due to return to Earth tomorrow, the 10th of April. The milestone flight marks NASA’s first crewed mission outside low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

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The mission has been a huge cultural event across all media platforms, from the spectacle of the launch in Florida last week, to the fascinating new photographs of the far side of the moon. At the heart of the project has been the four-person crew, a diverse set of astronauts each defying convention. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and specialist Jeremy Hansen have each endeared themselves to a global audience over the last week and a half, through emotional moments and their sheer wonderment at life in space.

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Yesterday NASA revealed the astronauts’ bespoke wake-up playlist, a collection used to rouse them each morning in outer space. In a post on Instagram, the organisation said “Each track was selected by the Moon crew, continuing a tradition that started more than 50 years ago. Stay tuned to find out which songs they’ll choose next.” For yesterday’s selection, the crew started the day with Queen and David Bowie’s 1981 collaborative masterpiece ‘Under Pressure’. The single was the second UK Number One for Queen and third for Bowie, whose lifelong fascination with space saw him create alien alter-ego Ziggy Stardust and write numerous songs themed around astronauts, like tracks ‘Space Oddity’, ‘Life On Mars’, and ‘Ashes To Ashes’.

Another song that has drawn attention on social media is British indie-rock group Glass Animals 2019 single with US rapper Denzel Curry, ‘Tokyo Drifting’. Glass Animals replied to NASA’s update with a simple comment reading “this is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life ever.” but it has been Curry’s ecstatic raving that has captured the spotlight. On social media site X, he has enthusiastically declared himself “The First Rapper Played in Space” and made the fantastic statement “even aliens f*ck with my sh*t!”

The playlist currently sits at 9 tracks, with NASA suggesting more may be added before the mission’s completion. Other cuts include Chappell Roan’s 2020 single ‘Pink Pony Club’ which became an international mega-hit several years after its release, the appropriately gentle track ‘Sleepyhead’ by Young & Sick, and emotive, atmospheric country tune ‘Lonely Drifter’ by Charley Crockett.

The Orion spacecraft is currently nearing the end of its journey home, and is due to splash down near San Diego tomorrow night at 8PM EDT (1AM BST). You can follow the updates from NASA and the crew of ‘Integrity’ through their official Instagram and X accounts, with plenty more photos and maybe a playlist add-on yet to come.

Turnstile formed as a hardcore punk band in Baltimore, Maryland in 2010, originally releasing heavy, energetic music to mosh to – but it all changed with 2021 album ‘Glow On’, which eschewed hardcore conventions and instead dove into dreamy pop, shoegaze and rock and roll. While Ebert’s chugging riffs were always a big part of their sound, his melodic leads and solos on ‘Glow On’ became a defining feature that set them apart from the pack.

He parted ways with the band in 2022, following a live absence that saw session guitarist Greg Cerwonka fill his vacancy for dates including their manic set on Glastonbury’s (then-named) John Peel Stage. After his exit, rhythm guitarist Pat McCrory took the reins, and the group went on to release three-time Grammy-winning ‘Never Enough’ in 2025, which was lighter on guitar solos but far denser in its melodic elements and commercialised sheen.

Since his departure, Ebert formed new band The S.E.T., (The Self-Evident Truth), in 2025. The band released one single ‘T.M.T.’, marking a strong return to a hardcore template, with their debut EP ‘Self Evident Truth’ on the way for early March. However, Ebert was then also forced out of The S.E.T. in February of this year. This was allegedly down to a string of attacks he aimed at Turnstile, accusing them of mishandling the takings from a financial benefit gig.

He has repeatedly harassed his old band over various issues in recent times, including accusing the members of being disingenuous over their stance against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) during their controversial activity in US cities. In a deleted post on Instagram, he claimed “No one in Turnstile cares at all about ethics or social issues in general, they’re just pandering to their audience.” Ebert further alleges Turnstile drummer Daniel Fang took out a restraining order against him following his exit from the group.

Music news site Lambgoat were the first to report that an arrest warrant was filed on Tuesday the 31st of March in Montgomery County for Brady O’Brien Ebert. ThePRP also published the Montgomery County arrest warrants database, where you can see one Brady O’Brien Ebert of Silver Springs, Maryland, and his charge of attempted second degree murder. A further charge of first degree assault is also being pressed over the incident which allegedly occurred on Sunday the 29th of March. According to Lambgoat, the arrest warrant was issued on Monday the 30th, with Ebert being held without bond since his arrest.

Ebert, aged 33, made his initial court appearance yesterday, Wednesday the 1st of April, with a further hearing due to take place today to discuss the terms of any bail or bond conditions.

Sir Brian May has always been outspoken on any topic he feels passionate about, be it politics and Brexit, or the protection of British wildlife and abolition of fox hunting. As a man of great artistic individuality and moral integrity, the guitarist of British rock band Queen has never shied away from speaking his mind. Now 78 and still actively performing, May has used his platform to speak out at a new issue – the current societal landscape in the United States of America.

Speaking to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail, May said “America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account.” Indeed, since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term as president in January last year, British touring acts have been apprehensive to cross the pond. The US has been plagued by mass shootings and assassinations of prominent figures, violence in the pursuit of expelling illegal immigrants, and Trump’s economic warfare costing the average citizen more each week. This has all created an ever-deepening civil unrest on American streets, with both domestic and international tensions reaching a fever-pitch.

May goes on to say “it’s very sad because I feel like Queen grew up in America, and we love it, but it’s not what it was. Everyone is thinking twice about going there at the moment.” He’s not wrong, Queen have been incredibly popular in the US, having had 2 number one hits with ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ and ‘A Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, their international mega-hit ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ falling short at second place. They have spent 346 weeks on Billboard’s Artist 100, with five successive top 10 albums between 1975 and 1980, when ‘The Game’ got them their first US number one record.

His remarks this week follow a public conflict the band had with the US President during his first term in 2020. Trump has drawn criticism from many acts for using their music without permission for his rallies and campaign videos, with notable examples like Bruce Springsteen refusing to humour his use of ‘Born In The USA’. In this instance, Queen attempted to withdraw usage of their songs ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are The Champions’ due to disagreements with Trump’s policy.

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Queen are currently on a pause from recording and touring since wrapping their Rhapsody tour, which ran from 2019 to 2024 and made two laps of the States. After frontman Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991, they have performed since 2011 with American Idol star Adam Lambert as vocalist. While the last Queen + Adam Lambert show was in Tokyo in 2024, May’s last public performance was with Queen drummer Roger Taylor at The Last Night Of The Proms in September 2025.

Earlier this year Sir Brian also announced he would never play Glastonbury Festival, due to objections with how its organisers at Worthy Farm treated their local wildlife. Amidst the uncertainty of Queen’s immediate future, he has hinted that things are far from over. Again speaking to the Daily Mail, he made allusions to new music and potential shows, saying “Never say never about not coming back, the rebuild of Queen Two is coming back, and there are a couple of things you haven’t heard.”

18 year old McKenzie Morgan from Cwmbran, South Wales, has been sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders institute, after pleading guilty to purchasing an Al-Qaeda training manual. During a court hearing at the Old Bailey in London, he was alleged to be plotting multiple terror attacks, including an attack on a children’s dance club, and a bombing at Oasis’s first comeback show in Cardiff.

According to a BBC article, Morgan, who has been named by the press following his 18th birthday, is described as a “lone attacker” who had been exposed to dangerous influences. He had been inspired by Axel Rudakubana, who at the age of just 17 committed one of the worst mass-stabbings in British history. In July 2024, he targeted a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, killing 3 girls under the age of 10, as well as seriously injuring 8 more children and 2 adults. He was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison in January last year.

Morgan had claimed to be attempting to make the toxin ricin at home, as well as considering attacks on his own school, and had been trying to acquire dangerous knives, though he was limited due to being under 18 at the time. The article also mentions that Morgan had used the mobile app Snapchat to suggest that he had intentions to set explosives at Oasis’s first night of their 2025 reunion tour, which took place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on the 4th of July.

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This is the latest in a worrying trend of events in music and the arts being targets for acts of depravity. In 2015, three coordinated terror attacks in Paris claimed the lives of 130 people in total, with 416 injured. While there were suicide bombers and shootings in other areas of Paris, the worst was to happen at the Bataclan theater. Gunmen opened fire during an Eagles Of Death Metal show, killing 90 in a crowd of 1,500.

In 2017, two Islamic extremists detonated explosive devices at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert, killing 17 and injuring 1,017. An estimated 14,200 people were in the venue at the time, many of them children, teens and their parents. Grande then rescheduled her dates to perform relief show “One Love Manchester”, raising £17 million for the victims of the attack.

There is seemingly no evidence to suggest McKenzie Morgan behaved out of any doctrine or belief system, instead wishing to carry out a “Rudakubana-style attack” on his own. In the words of Det. Supt. Andrew Williams of Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, Morgan was “not born bad” and was “vulnerable to the malign influences that prey on our young people in today’s online word”. As well as his 14 month juvenile detention, he will be kept on license for a year, and must report his residences to the police for the next 10 years.

In a regretful statement to fans, Fender expressed his absolute devastation at the cancellations, particularly for his homecoming gig in Newcastle, which was meant to close the tour on a high. “I am absolutely heartbroken,” he wrote. “I have done everything by the book this tour, living like a monk. It’s just so unlucky.” Fender promised that more updates would follow, and fans have flooded social media with messages of encouragement and understanding. 

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— Sam Fender (@samfendermusic) December 17, 2024

Fender’s injury has brought an abrupt pause to what has been a remarkable tour, but he remains hopeful about his recovery. The next leg of the tour is scheduled to begin in Europe this March, followed by North American dates and later a major UK stadium tour in the summer. These include performances at St. James’ Park and London Stadium, marking another milestone in his ever-growing career. Both he and his fans are eagerly hoping for a full recovery in time for these upcoming shows. 

This isn’t the first time Fender has faced vocal health issues. Back in 2019, he was forced to cancel a string of shows on his Hypersonic Missiles tour after developing laryngitis, a tough decision considering it was his first major tour. Fender has earned widespread acclaim for his albums Hypersonic Missiles and Seventeen Going Under, but the back-to-back performances can take their toll, even for seasoned artists. 

As Sam Fender faces a difficult but necessary period of recovery, the support from his hometown only underscores the artist’s strong connection to his fans. During the Newcastle v Brentford match tonight, players will wear specially designed shirts featuring a promotional design for Fender’s upcoming album, People Watching. These shirts, which will later be auctioned off to raise money for the Newcastle United Foundation, serve as evidence of the artist’s deep admiration for the North East. This collaboration reflects Sam as a cultural icon in the region, frequently championing his roots through his music. It also underscores the mutual admiration between Fender, the football club, and the local community that continues to rally behind him during challenging times. 

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As Fender focuses on recovery, the love and loyalty of his fanbase remain unwavering. Fans have praised his resilience, reinforcing the deep bond the artist has created through his raw and relatable music. While his immediate priority is to heal, the anticipation surrounding his upcoming album and future performances continues to grow. This challenging chapter may be a temporary setback, but it sets the stage for a stronger, triumphant return. 

The video opens with a tender montage of Krept cradling Nala, paired with scenes of him guiding her through childhood milestones. Krept’s lyrics weave seamlessly through the visuals, including shots of him gazing lovingly at clips of his daughter. He also reflects on his own upbringing; the lessons he has learnt about love and friendship and the pure determination to be the best kind of father who creates a better future for his child. The video places Krept’s poignant lyrics front and centre, making it a completely raw and emotional narrative.  

Adding to the video’s impact, the appearance of many familiar faces from the grime scene, as well as Krept’s close friends and family, each joined by their own daughters. The likes of JME, DJ Target and Docta Cosmic are filmed interacting with their children, crafting a powerful visual statement about fatherhood in modern society. For the collective, many of whom are black fathers, this representation holds even greater significance, challenging the stereotypes perpetuated in mainstream media. It is a clear celebration of love, resilience and responsibility, breaking down societal stigmas while showcasing these artists as being well deserved role models.   

 While the project opens a broader conversation about fatherhood in black communities, Krept doesn’t shy away from addressing the significance of Nala’s mother. He highlights the struggles and sacrifices she endured during pregnancy, ‘I watched your mum cry in pain as she carried you, so keep that in mind before you give her any attitude’. Using his lyrics, he ensures Nala will grow up understanding her mother’s strength and the challenges she overcame to create Nala. Krept also pays tribute to Nala’s late ‘uncle’ Cadet, a talented grime artist and Krept’s cousin, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2019. He emphasises the importance of reaching out to loved ones and making sure to cherish every moment with them. By acknowledging both the journey of parenthood alongside Nala’s mother and honouring Cadet’s memory, Krept paints a fuller picture of the people who have shaped his daughter’s life. The song beautifully captures how grief and love coexist, underscoring his determination to teach his daughter to live life fully and love deeply.  

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 Looking ahead, Krept has teased an exciting 2025. As one half of  Krept & Konan, the duo has announced the release of their fourth studio album, Young Kingz II, on February 7, 2025. This marks their first album since 2019’s Revenge is Sweet, which reached number five on the official album charts. The upcoming album is expected to expand on the themes introduced in ‘Nala’s Song’, further cementing Krept’s reputation as an artist unafraid to showcase vulnerability and love, both as a father and as a musician.  

The tour kicks off on September 11, 2025, at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town and continues through Birmingham, Manchester, and Belfast before eventually wrapping up in Dublin. Each venue will offer an intimate concert experience, featuring crowd favourites such as ‘Change My Mind’ and ‘Different ‘Round Here.’

Can’t wait to bring the Damn Country Music Tour to the UK next year! Tickets go on sale at 9 AM local to the general public on Friday, December 6, but you can get pre-sale tickets starting Wednesday, December 4 on my website: https://t.co/FxniTwPdni pic.twitter.com/BcFnrFWGoD

— Riley Green (@RileyGreenMusic) December 3, 2024

Tickets for the Damn Country Music Tour will be available to the general public starting Friday, December 6, 2024, at 9:00 AM. Fans who participated in the presale on December 4, 2024, had the first opportunity to secure spots, but plenty of tickets remain for others to grab. As this is Green’s highly anticipated debut UK tour, tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Riley Green, a rising star in the country music scene, has built his authentic reputation with his storytelling lyrics. Born in Jacksonville, Alabama, Green grew up with a deep appreciation for southern rock, which is evident in his music. His small-town roots and childhood love for music have allowed him to create heartfelt ballads and classically rowdy country anthems.

Green first gained attention with his EPs and breakout single ‘There Was This Girl’, which climbed the country charts and solidified his place in the genre. Since then, he has released multiple albums, including Different ‘Round Here, which features one of his biggest hits, ‘I Wish Grandpa’s Never Died.’ Green’s ability to combine incredibly personal lyrics with captivating melodies has earned him a dedicated well-deserved fanbase.

Throughout his career, Green has collaborated with many talented country stars. He teamed up with Ella Langley, another rising star in the genre, for the track ‘You Look Like You Love Me.’ This duet became a fan favourite on social media due to its catchy chorus and even reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart. Langley has also joined Green on stage for many live performances, further cementing their musical partnership. Another notable collaboration is with the popular Luke Combs on ‘Different ‘Round Here (Remix)’, which blends both of their soulful voices beautifully. Green’s ability to connect with both established and emerging talent has broadened his repertoire to a diverse audience.

For many, Riley Green’s music feels like coming home. It evokes nostalgia, a celebration of simple pleasures, and the unbreakable bonds of family and community. His Damn Country Music Tour, fittingly named, embodies these themes while inviting listeners to join a shared experience of storytelling through song.

Riley Green’s Damn Country Music Tour not only presents his music but also reflects his journey from being a small-town Alabamian boy to performing on some of the biggest stages, both in America and internationally. Green’s blend of pure authenticity and country charm will no doubt win him even more fans worldwide.

ticket information can be found here.

Robbie, being the youngest and most rebellious member, joined the band at the tender age of 16, while Gary, who was positioned as the group’s leader, was a few years older at 19. In the docu-series, Robbie reflects on his time in the band and reveals a sense of rivalry between himself and Gary.

During interviews for the show, Robbie candidly expressed his dislike for Gary, primarily because he believed Gary had everything and the successful career that he himself desired. Robbie admitted to feeling vengeful and wanting to make Gary pay for his perceived advantages.

Robbie said, “I disliked Gary the most because he was the one that was supposed to have the everything, and the career. I wanted to make him pay. I was vengeful.”

Despite Robbie’s departure from Take That after just five years, which left fans devastated, the band split the following year. Robbie embarked on his solo career in 1996, initially achieving moderate success with a few singles entering the charts. However, it was his collaboration with songwriter and producer Guy Chambers, along with the release of the hit song “Angels,” that truly propelled his music career to new heights.

In the documentary featuring one of Robbie’s earlier solo performances, archive footage captures him taunting the audience and directing his hostility towards Gary. He said,“I’m sorry that I treated Gary like that. You can understand why a younger me and a younger you would bump heads,  I’d be like, ‘It’s my game’, and you’d be like, ‘No, it’s my game… it’s my ball’.”

Williams revealed that he did not seek Barlow’s input during any phase of the documentary’s creation. Williams clarified that he was not obligated to do so by law. Although the two had previously discussed the concept of a biopic, Williams admitted that their conversations on the topic were awkward. Robbie said, “Legally I didn’t have to. I’ve had to have chats there, yeah, and they are uncomfortable.”

Take That appeared to have a clear leader in Gary Barlow, with all attention and management focused on him. As a youth, I couldn’t help but feel envious and resentful towards him. Robbie said “And it seemed like there was one person being managed in Take That, and it was Gary Barlow. It was all geared around him and as a young person, I would’ve been jealous of that. I suppose a lot of me resented him.”

In 2006, Take That produced a documentary about their band, during which Robbie offered a brief and apology to Gary. However, Gary appeared to have little to add, stating that he had already expressed his thoughts on the matter in previous interviews. Gary said, “I think I’ve said it all in my interviews, yeah.”

The 22-year old singer-songwriter, gaining popularity for her bubbly melodies and alternative pop hooks, has recently joined some of music’s biggest names on tour – supporting Dua Lipa on her Future Nostalgia Tour, Coldplay for their Music of the Sphere’s Tour and Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics Tour.

Griff took to Instagram to share her excitement, stating, “Guys, news!! I’m going on tour next year across the UK and Europe. It’s going to be my first headline shows in Europe! And I’ll be playing across UK again too. Can’t wait to be in the room with you all and play you the new music. Tickets are on sale this Friday. Come and find me in your nearest city.”

The Brit-award winner has recently released her new single ‘Vertigo‘, gaining attention and acclaim from US pop star, Taylor Swift, who shared the song on her Instagram page. The single has been followed by the release of her EP, Vert1go.vol.1, which gives listeners a closer insight into Griff’s personal life, saying, “This collection of songs are fragile and insular and desperately heartbroken (as usual).  Can’t wait for them to be yours.”

To celebrate the release of this latest EP, Griff has been playing a trilogy of intimate shows in London, Berlin and Paris. Playing unreleased songs to fans in London, Griff shared the news that she has collaborated with Chris Martin to write upcoming song, ‘Astronaut‘. Her return to the stage has seen fans sell-out these shows within days.

“On Wednesday I played an intimate show with some of you guys, and played the songs on volume 1. It’s been so long since I’ve been in the room with you guys for my own show and it felt so good,” she stated on X, “I hope volume 1 can become some kind of soundtrack to your days and nights.”

This latest era for Griff comes after her critically acclaimed debut mixtape, One Foot in Front of the Other, which saw the singer enter the UK album charts for the first time and peak at no.4. This also saw Griff win the Rising Star Award at the Brit Awards, making her one of the youngest recipients at just 20 years old.

Beginning in March 2024, Griff will begin her tour in Stockholm and continue her run, finishing up in London’s iconic Roundhouse venue.

Tour dates are as follows and tickets can be purchased here.

10/03/2024 – Debaser Strand – Stockholm, Sweden
11/03 – Parkteateret – Oslo, Norway
15/03 – Mojo Club – Hamburg, Germany
16/03 – Heimathafen – Berlin, Germany
18/03 – Gloria Theater – Cologne, Germany
19/03 – Tolhuisten – Amsterdam, Netherlands
21/03 – Botanique Orangerie – Brussels, Belgium
22/03 – La Machine Du Moulin Rouge – Paris, France
24/03 – O2 Academy – Bournemouth, UK
26/03 – Olympia Theatre – Dublin, Ireland
28/03 – Albert Hall – Manchester, UK
30/03 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow, UK
31/03 – O2 Institute – Birmingham, UK
02/04 – Roundhouse – London, UK

Weezer announced the tour on X, stating, “Today is the greatest day we’ve ever known. UK and Ireland we’re coming back around to co-headline a handful of shows next summer with @SmashingPumpkin“.

The Smashing Pumpkins, who have just come off their US tour, announced soon after, “SP is excited to announce we will be touring UK & Ireland next year with Weezer.”

With multiple, multi-platinum records and careers spanning about 30 years, these US bands are sure to thrill UK and Irish fans. Just last year, US fans experienced this powerful rock concoction at BeachLife Festival in California where both bands headlined.

For Weezer, they are returning to the UK after their highly anticipated, Hella Mega, sold-out stadium tour with Green Day and Fallout Boy which was initially delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 saw Weezer release an innovative quartet of EP’s titled SZNZ – each album changing its sound to correspond to the feeling and emotions of the four seasons.

Since their debut studio album release in 1994 with Weezer (often referred to as the ‘Blue Album‘), this Los Angeles group have amassed billions of streams, over 10 million album sales in the US and over 35 million record sales internationally.

Chicago rock icons, The Smashing Pumpkins, have had their fair share of success since forming in 1988. Their unique and pioneering sound, which blended various music genres previously unexplored by the world, paved the way for them to achieve enduring iconic status. Their name quickly became synonymous with 90’s alternative rock.

In November 2022, The Smashing Pumpkins began to release a trilogy of rock opera albums titled, ATUM. Past albums they have released have been critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Siamese Dream (1993), which just celebrated its 30th year anniversary, has since gone quadruple-platinum and was placed no.18 in Pitchfork’s ‘Top 100 Albums of the 90’s’.

Tickets for their UK and Ireland co-headlining tour will go on sale Friday 20th October at 10am: get the link here.

Touring dates for The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer:

07/06/2024 – Birmingham Utilita Arena – Birmingham
08/06 – The O2 Arena – London
10/06 –  3Arena – Dublin
12/06 – Glasgow OVO Hydro – Glasgow
13/06 – Manchester Co-op Live – Manchester
14/06 – Cardiff Castle – Cardiff